Maldivian president condemns attempted drone attack near Mecca

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday condemned an attempted drone attack near the Saudi city of Mecca, saying any act that "threatens the safety and sanctity of Islam's holiest city is completely unacceptable."

"Any act that threatens the safety and sanctity of Islam's holiest city is completely unacceptable and deeply offensive to the entire Muslim Ummah," Muizzu said on the US social media company X.

He expressed the Maldives' "full solidarity" with Saudi Arabia and commended "the swift response of the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces in safeguarding the Holy City, its pilgrims and residents."

"We call for an immediate cessation of such attacks and urge all concerned to avoid further escalation and commit to the path of peace and dialogue," he said.

Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen's Houthi group near Mecca, the Saudi-led coalition said early Wednesday, while the Houthis denied responsibility for the launch.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the drone was intercepted at around 6.50 pm local time (1550GMT) Tuesday before entering restricted airspace, with its wreckage falling south of the city.